January 29, 2024
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, February 5, 2024.The deadline for submissions is Thursday, February 1, at 4:30 p.m.
The Diocese of Erie Information Bulletin advertises and promotes activities and events sponsored by diocesan entities such as parishes, schools, religious communities and groups. The IB is unable to advertise or promote activities or events not sponsored by such entities. Submissions may run a maximum of two editions. The administrative offices of the diocese reserve the right to edit submissions.
Email your Information Bulletin items to the editor.
2024 Lenten Practices
Please find attached the 2024 Lenten Practices notice from the Chancery.
All are invited to participate in the National Eucharistic Congress pilgrimage
The Diocese of Erie invites you to join a historic pilgrimage to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis from July 17-21, 2024, the first such gathering in the US in 83 years. The Diocesan Eucharistic Adoration Committee is coordinating the journey, with two motorcoaches, one departing from Our Lady of Peace Church in Erie and another from Holy Redeemer Church in Warren, including a pickup at Good Shepherd Church in West Middlesex.
Please visit www.eriercd.org/EucharisticRevival.html for details. Parishes are asked to disseminate this information through bulletins, notice boards, email blasts and social media platforms. The diocese seeks widespread participation and encourages all pastors to extend this invitation to parishioners. For inquiries, contact Jo Feeney by email at eriedeac@gmail.com or by calling or texting 724.699.3340.
St. Patrick’s Day
In 2024, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17- Principal Patronal Feast Day of the Diocese of Erie) falls on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. In recognition of the importance of this day for the diocese, Bishop Persico directs that St. Patrick be observed liturgically — as a feast — (at daily Mass, recitation of the Divine Office, etc.) on Monday, March 18. Clergy will find the Order of the Mass for March 18 in the attached letter.
Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania awards $53,150 in fall 2023 Education Grants and announces 2024 grant cycles
The Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania is pleased to announce that eleven grants totaling $53,150 were awarded through our 2023 fall competitive grant program. Education Grants awarded this past fall covered a wide range of projects and new initiatives in Catholic schools and parishes. Visit https://www.cfnwpa.org/news/catholic-foundation-announces-2023-fall-grant-awards to read about our grantees and their impactful projects. The Catholic Foundation also has announced its 2024 competitive grant cycles. Go to the following link for more information: https://www.cfnwpa.org/grant-seekers.
Pastoral Planning implementation guides
Attached, please find two pastoral planning implementation guides: one for parishes that are merging, and one for parishes creating a new partnership. These guides were originally developed in 2016 and now have been updated for use with ongoing pastoral planning. The other guides in the series are in the process of being revised as well. These guides and other resources may be found at https://eriercd.org/planning-downloads.html. Please contact Maria Caulfield in the Chancery at 814.824.1130 or mcaulfield@eriercd.org with any questions.
If your parish was sent a draft version of an implementation guide, please discard it and use the new one going forward.
Rite of Election
It’s time to register for the 2024 Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion Liturgy. One liturgy will take place at St. Peter Cathedral, 230 W. 10th St., Erie, on Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. The second liturgy will be held at Holy Spirit Parish, St. Catherine of Siena Church, 118 S. State St., DuBois, on Feb. 25 at 3 pm. All parishes must RSVP, even those that DO NOT have any catechumens or candidates. Register using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/WKXD4bQVwy. No registration form will be sent in the mail. Please complete the form by Feb. 2. Contact Danielle Schoenfeldt with questions at dschoenfeldt@eriercd.org.
Pastors and parish staff: Use Ministry Platform to share Lenten events with parishioners
The Information Systems Team recommends that pastors and parish staff keep parishioners updated about ashes distributions, Lenten dinners and events, and Mass and service times for Holy Week by sending them an email through Ministry Platform. The team has created several email templates for this Lent and Easter. Once a parish creates its own template, the templates that have been created can be accessed and re-used every year. Visit https://www.eriercd.org/images/pdf/computer/mp/specialeventsemail.pdf to download the instructions. Contact kpapalia@eriercd.org it you would like to see email templates for other events.
CRS Rice Bowl for this Lent
Pastors and principals will find attached a letter from Bishop Persico concerning the CRS Rice Bowl collection for this Lent. Please communicate the information in the letter to your parishioners/teachers in time for them to prepare for this important collection. In the letter, you also will find resources to help enhance their Lenten experience.
Office for Divine Worship monthly newsletter
The Office for Divine Worship presents a monthly newsletter to aid in preparing celebrations that will occur in that particular month. The February newsletter is attached.
Do you know someone who might be interested in serving as a permanent deacon?
The Diocese of Erie is launching a new five-year session for ten men seeking to study for and discern whether or not they are being called to this vocation. Please share this information with those who might be interested in learning more. Additional information about prerequisites as well as details about the application process occurring this winter and spring can be found at www.eriercd.org/deacons. Participants will simultaneously earn a master’s in pastoral administration from Gannon University. Two mandatory inquiry sessions will be held at St. Mark Center in Erie the weekends of March 9 and 16.
International Catholic Stewardship Council newsletter
The Catholic Foundation is happy to share the attached February edition of the International Catholic Stewardship Council newsletter. (Contact Elizabeth Rathburn, erathburn@cfnwpa.org, for the Spanish version.) Pastors and parish staff are encouraged to read and share this publication with their parishioners, using all or parts of it for their parish bulletin, with credit to the author/source.
Job openings in the diocese
See the classified section below for the latest position openings. Here’s a quick link to diocesan, school and parish jobs: https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html. For Erie Catholic School System jobs only, go to http://ErieCatholic.org/careers.
PW Protected Attachments:Clergy and Department Heads click here to login.2024 Lenten Practices St. Patrick’s Day Rice Bowl letter Office for Divine Worship monthly newsletter ICSC newsletter (English) Spaghetti dinner in Sharpsville Retreat opportunity at Our Lady of Mercy Women’s retreat Pastoral Planning Implementation Guide for Partnered Parishes Pastoral Planning Implementation Guide for Merged Parishes |
Spaghetti dinner in Sharpsville
St. Bartholomew Parish in Sharpsville is holding its famous Homemade Spaghetti Dinner on February 4 from noon to 4 pm at the Parish Social Center, 311 W. Ridge Ave., Sharpsville. Tickets are $12 adults, $8 for kids 10 and under. Dinner includes homemade pasta, sauce and meatballs, Italian sausage, fresh Italian bread, spumoni ice cream and salad. Live Italian music by Sam Tonelli. Also featuring a basket raffle, 50/50 and other raffles. For tickets: call 724-962-7130, email stbartholyname@gmail.com, or visit https://www.wesharegiving.org/App/Form/d96ae2d5-9a5b-4111-8cb3-72ee30fbbef4. Tickets at the door are limited in number, and a sellout is expected; pre-purchase is highly recommended. Please reference and post the attached flier.
Adult faith formation class at St. Peter Cathedral
Join the adult faith formation class titled What We Believe: The Beauty of the Catholic Faith on Feb. 8 and 15 at 7 p.m. in Synod Hall at St. Peter Cathedral, 230 W. 10th St., Erie. This class delves into the liturgical journey of Catholics through the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent and Easter, both as individual experiences and communal celebrations. The session will include a reflection on the Ash Wednesday ritual, emphasizing our mortality and the collective journey in seeking God’s mercy.
The class also serves as a preparation for Lent, offering insights into the sacraments and the Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, underscoring their significance in the faith community. The sessions are free and open to all, with no registration required.
Retreat opportunity at Our Lady of Mercy Parish
Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Harborcreek is hosting the Sanctus retreat on Feb. 17, which offers a chance to step away from life's busy pace and dedicate time to God. This day-long retreat focuses on rediscovering God's love, reaffirming faith and deepening one's relationship with Christ through prayer, reflection, sharing and renewal. Meals are provided free of charge.
To register, fill out the attached form and return it to the parish office or place it in the collection basket by Feb. 1. For inquiries, contact Irene at 814.899.6132 or via email at ilucas@ourladyofmercychurch.org. Please note that space is limited.
Retreat for women
The Spiritual Family The Work will host its annual retreat for women March 1-3 at Villa Maria Retreat Center in Pulaski, Pa. Father Nicholas Rouch, vicar general for the Diocese of Erie, will be the retreat master. There will be opportunity for spiritual direction and for confession. See the attached flyer for details. Contact Sister Josephine at erie@thework-fso.org or 814-384-0556 with questions. If cost is a deterrent for you, please contact Sister. Josephine for help.
There are no classifieds for this edition.
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